Get a Kid Addicted

…this Saturday, April 10, the 2010 youth (shotgun) spring turkey season will commence…what an amazing opportunity to introduce a youngster to the fun, and yes, addiction of spring time gobbler-chasing…

…for $5 (and if applicable $1 agent fee) you can purchase a youth turkey permit that is good for the entire 2010 spring turkey season or until they fill it with one male, or bearded hen, turkey – then it’s the same price for a 2nd permit – and same price for a 3rd permit, if needed!…that’s more than a month and half of fun in the spring woods…the price is good for resident & non-resident youth, too - just don’t forget the Habitat Stamp required of all non-residents, regardless of age…

…I have been very fortunate to spend time each year with new spring hunters, including several youth and have learned quite a bit about what makes a hunt successful and what brings these hunters back…here are some of my thoughts…

1 – Have Fun!…sounds simple, but I am always surprised to find out how many well-intentioned mentors force their new hunter to “stick-it-out” despite bad weather or lack of activity…sure all hunters must learn how to deal with adversity but this is something they don’t need to deal with on their first few hunts – there will be plenty of time for that once they are hooked on the sport…

2 – Keep it Short…the younger or newer the hunter is to the experience the shorter the first few hunts should be…there may be some exceptions to this, but they are very, very rare…once the action slows down, be ready to go do something else for a while…if the birds aren’t biting its time for something else…

3 – Blind’em…I have become a fan of the ground blind - especially for new hunters…how else can you continue to turkey hunt while eating a pb& j sandwich & telling jokes?…this will allow your young hunter to witness more action because you can keep it fun, and comfortable for a longer period of time…patience in the turkey woods is golden – comfort leads to patience… 

4 – Be Loud…all turkey hunters like to make turkey noises – especially the young ones…so let them call…I really like to let them call in the mornings when the birds are gobbling the most – it really builds confidence when you get a tom to respond to your attempts…the more experienced the hunter, the more I will rely on them to call to the birds… 

5 – Food – lots of Food…eating always helps…turkey hunting often starts early in the a.m. and leaves hunters hungry by mid-morning…evening hunts can often mean missed suppers and late nights returning home…so make sure you have plenty of food and water handy for new hunters…if you are in a blind, the eating seems to come naturally…

6 – Scouting…involve the new hunter in all aspects of the hunt – including the scouting…you may think of it as work, but to them it’s all adventure that builds on the anticipation for the hunt…this can pay big dividends, too, as it can help keep these short hunts productive and exciting…

7 - Age?…as many of you know the minimum age for turkey hunting in Nebraska was dropped a while back…as a result, I have received more questions about the proper age for letting youth go turkey hunting…my opinion, it is a case by case decision that needs to be made by parents/guardians…the requirements I put onto it for my young charges is that they have to be able to safely and reliably handle the firearm (or bow) all by themselves – including  aiming and pulling of the trigger…they must also be able to handle the recoil of the firearm, in a safe manner…but, don’t forget you can “hunt” turkeys without a gun/bow at any age – just ask my 4-year old daughter…

8 – Challenge Them…all right, you are one of the lucky ones that has a dyed-in-the-wool turkey chaser that just happens to be 15 yrs. or younger – they may even have few turkeys under their belts, too…now is the time to start putting some extra excitement into their hunt by making things a little tougher…if they have shot a bird or two from the ground blind – have them try getting one the old-fashioned way (at the base of a tree)…have them lead the scouting forays, choose the set-up location and do all the calling…turkey hunting is about challenge – if they are hooked they will love the extra test of their skills…

hershy